“The Killing Of Journalists In Gaza Under Israeli Bombardment Must End” — Roberta Metsola
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza, calling for an end to their targeting amid ongoing Israeli bombardment. Her comments follow the deaths of five Al Jazeera journalists in an Israeli airstrike outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City — an attack that has drawn condemnation from across the world and comes just days after Israel announced plans to occupy the whole of Gaza.
The Israeli military took responsibility for the strike, claiming without publicly disclosed evidence that the journalists, including veteran correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were Hamas militants posing as reporters. Al Jazeera described the attack as a “premeditated assassination,” while press freedom groups, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and international human rights organisations condemned it as a grave violation of international law.
“Journalists should never be a target. The killing of journalists in Gaza under Israeli bombardment must end. The international community needs to redouble efforts to ensure a ceasefire and the release of the hostages as a step towards lasting peace and stability. Escalation is not the answer,” Metsola wrote on X.
Journalists should never be a target.
The killing of journalists in Gaza under Israeli bombardment must end.
The international community needs to redouble efforts to ensure a ceasefire and the release of the hostages as a step towards lasting peace and stability. Escalation is… https://t.co/A9TsvlqPPO
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) August 11, 2025
Her post also included a reshared statement from December 2023, made after another film crew was killed, in which she said more must be done to ensure journalists’ safety and their ability to report on the ground. On both occasions, she did not explicitly name Israel as responsible, a point noted by observers and prompting some criticism from academics, journalists, and activists. They argue that while she has condemned the killings, her language has been more measured compared to her responses to other global crises.
International reaction to the strike was swift and widespread. The United Nations and its human rights office condemned the killings as a “grave breach of international humanitarian law,” calling for independent investigation and unhindered access for journalists to Gaza. The Qatari Prime Minister denounced the deaths as beyond imagination and emblematic of a broader attack on press freedom. The UK urged that Israel allow reporters to work safely, while press groups intensified pressure on Israel to ensure the protection of media personnel.
Metsola has previously described the situation in Gaza as “intolerable,” warning that “too many innocent civilians have been killed” and that “journalists are unable to survive, let alone work.” Her latest remarks come as the humanitarian toll of the conflict continues to mount, with Gaza’s press corps facing unprecedented danger and press freedom advocates warning that impunity for such killings undermines international law.
READ NEXT: How An Allegedly Failed Swiss Politician Evaded Full Justice in Malta
